PhD student Light co-PIs research grant

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Erica Light, a doctoral student in mathematics, science, and learning technologies, is the co-PI of a grant with Assistant Professor Enrique Suárez and two other researchers. "Diversifying Future Innovators in Socially Engaged Research" is an Institute of Diversity Sciences-funded project. The team will engage with PK-16 students and work with them to become researchers and socially conscious advocates.

"I am so grateful to IDS for providing me the opportunity to study justice-oriented research education," says Light. "I am learning so much, and it feels really special to be a part of such a distinguished community of scientists collaborating for social change."

Light and her colleagues will investigate small-scale biogas systems as a low-cost, low-tech climate justice solution in the U.S. that could potentially expand access to renewable energy technology and have financial and environmental benefits for low-income communities of color.

According to the project proposal, "Biogas presents an exciting avenue for putting students in the driver’s seat of community-engaged research at the intersections of agriculture, energy, engineering, human health, microbiology, waste processing, and social justice."